Crouchy’s got his crystal ball out….
Can you believe that the Premier League returns this weekend already? It feels like only weeks ago we were hydrating every 22-and-a-half minutes (by nipping to the fridge for another bevvy), nodding along with Wazza on the artistic merits of the World Cup half-time show, and assessing the hand-to-hand combat talents of Argentine midfielders… because it was.
But now we’re all pre-seasoned out. It’s time for new kits, new signings and the new season – and Peter Crouch is all in on it. Here’s the big man’s take on what to expect in the next nine months of football…
Crouchy’s Shouts For the Premier League
Arsenal to win the league
Top 4: Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland
Avoid Relegation: Coventry
Arsenal to win the league
When you look around the league and the likeliest challengers for the title, one teams stands out – Arsenal.
Obviously they’re champions and have that monkey off their back, but the amount of change we’ve seen at other top sides – City, Liverpool, United, Chelsea and Spurs have all changed managers in the last six months or so – whereas Arsenal have Mikel Arteta there for long time now, they’re full of confidence from last season and they’ve strengthened their squad.
And there could be more to come if the reports about Victor Osimhen come to anything. That’d be another top signing and add more goals.
They are the strongest looking team going into the season by a fair distance so it’s looking good for them and I have to pick them to win the title again.
Outright Bet Builder – Top 4: Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea
It’s also hard to know how the transition at Man City will work out, especially early in the season. We saw how the Community Shield went, though that’s just a one-off game and they’re still getting up to speed for the season.
They were Arsenal’s closest challengers last season though and Enzo Maresca’s been at the club before, he’s worked under Pep Guardiola. He was quite unfairly treated at Chelsea, so it’s a good appointment for them. I think they should be second to Arsenal still this year.
After that it gets a bit harder to pick, but I’m going to go for Liverpool and Chelsea.
I like Andoni Iraola. I’m not sure it’ll click straight away. Liverpool have some really, really talented players but I’m not sure they’re quite at the same level they were a few years ago. It was the right decision to part ways with Arne Slot and though Iraola had a slow start at Bournemouth, we’ve seen he’s a top manager and he will get time at Liverpool because I think he’ll play with the style that Liverpool fans became accustomed to under Jurgen Klopp.
They’ll be on the front-foot, high-up the pitch, pressing, whereas last season we saw the style of football as much as the results become an issue for fans.
I’ve seen them in preseason, there are some good young players coming through and Alexander Isak’s scored on his way back from that injury so I’m hopeful.
Chelsea have done some decent business for their new manager, Xabi Alonso. It felt like there was an issue in the dressing room lacking leadership and they’ve brought in Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck to address that. That will definitely improve things. As good as they are as players – Danny Welbeck had a great season last year – it’s the type of characters they are that will be as helpful.
Somewhere along the way in recent years it feels like Chelsea have lost a bit of their identity. We see this consistent conveyor belt of players being turned over every year or two and it doesn’t feel like there’s anyone who is a mainstay of the team. A player like Jordan Henderson can come in and help knit the squad together.
They also have no European football this season, which could be very helpful when it comes to chasing that top spot so I’ll take them to make it.
An Outright Bet Builder on Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea to make the top is 6/1 on PaddyPower.com. TAP OR CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP
Avoid Relegation: Coventry
At the other end of the table, I would be a bit worried for Newcastle with all the changes there. Eddie Howe’s left and they’ve sold a lot of players so you could see them dropping down the table this year.
But you really do have to look at the promoted teams again. I know Sunderland really surprised people last year and got into Europe even, but in general when you see Hull, Ipswich and Coventry coming up, it’s hard not to think they’re going to be mired in the dogfight down there this season.
If you wanted to back one of them to survive I think you have to look at Coventry. Frank Lampard’s done a very good job there and if one of them stays it I reckon it’ll be the Sky Blues.
Crouchy’s Shouts For the Premier League
Arsenal to win the league
Top 4: Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea
Golden Boot: Erling Haaland
Avoid Relegation: Coventry
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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